10 Beautiful Red Birds in Connecticut [Images + IDs]

Connecticut is a state known for its beautiful countryside, quaint towns, and bustling cities. This diverse landscape is home to a wide variety of bird species, including the striking Red Bird. With its bright red plumage and unique features, this bird is a favorite of birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts in the state. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the world of Red Birds in Connecticut, exploring their characteristics, habitat, behavior, and the best birding locations to observe them in action. Whether you’re an experienced birder or simply curious about the natural world, join us on this exciting journey as we discover the captivating world of Red Birds in Connecticut.

Types of Red Birds in Connecticut:

While some of these birds live in Connecticut all year round, others only visit during the summer or winter seasons. This guide will also show the frequency of these birds based on the checklists submitted by birdwatchers of Connecticut on ebird. Let’s now delve into the specifics and examine each of these species in more depth to learn all there is to know:

1. Northern Cardinal
2. House Finch
3. Scarlet Tanager
4. Purple Finch
5. Common Redpoll
6. Red Crossbill
7. White-winged Crossbill
8. Pine Grosbeak
9. Summer Tanager
10. Painted Bunting

Northern cardinals

Northern Cardinals are year-round residents of Connecticut and can be frequently seen visiting backyard bird feeders. They are among the most popular and easily recognizable red birds in the state.

Frequency in Connecticut:  Northern Cardinals have been reported 48% on Summer checklists and 36% on winter checklists by Birdswatchers of Connecticut.

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• Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
• Life span: Up to 15 years
• Size: 21 cm (8.3 in)
• Weight: 33-65 g
• Origin: Eastern and Central North America

Male Northern Cardinals are distinguished by their distinctive red plumage, beak, and spiky mohawk-like hair. Northern cardinals are dimorphic birds, with both sexes being nearly totally distinct in color.

Females have red parts on their tails and wings, and preserve the red beak, with the rest of their plumage being a pale brown.

In the wild, these birds typically live for 3 years, while some have been reported to survive for up to 15 years, which is an unusual lifespan for tiny birds like cardinals.

The majority of Northern cardinals may be found in southeast California, where they spend most of their time hunting and eating tiny insects, fruits, berries, and seeds in woodland borders, thickets, residential gardens, cities, and desert washes.

House finch

The House Finch is another common bird species in Connecticut and is frequently spotted around bird feeders.

Frequency in Connecticut:  House Finches have been reported 25% on Summer checklists and 23% on winter checklists by Birdswatchers of Connecticut.

• Scientific name: Haemorhous mexicanus
• Life span: Up to 11 years
• Size: 12-15 cm (4.7-5.9 in)
• Weight: 16-27 g
• Origin: North America

Male house finches have predominantly brown plumage with a red gradient running up from the breast to the face. Females are typically brown and white and are less colorful.

At altitudes below 6,000 feet, these little birds spend most of their time in the dry desert, desert grassland, chaparral, oak savannah, streamsides, and open coniferous woods. They may be found in these habitats mostly grazing on weed seeds, berries, various fruits, and tiny insects in order to stock up on protein.

House finches have a rather long lifetime in the wild, where they may survive for roughly ten years, while captive finches have been known to live for twelve years.

Scarlet tanager 

Scarlet Tanagers are commonly spotted in summer they are quite rare to be spotted in winter in Connecticut.

Frequency in Connecticut: Scarlet tanagers have been reported as 15% on Summer checklists and 0% on winter checklists by Birdswatchers Connecticut.

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• Scientific name: Piranga olivacea
• Life span: Up to 10 years
• Size: 18 cm (7.1 in)
• Weight: 22-28 g
• Origin: North, Central, and South America

The Scarlet Tanagers are stunning birds with eye-catching blood-red bodies and highly defined jet-black wings and tails that flash their magnificent plumage.
These songbirds live in deciduous woods and sit high in the forest canopy and mostly eat insects. They are difficult to see but their rich burrow songs may help in identifying them.
During the autumn, songbirds migrate to South America, changing their stunning red feathers into yellow-green ones.

Purple finch

Purple Finches are relatively common in winter in Connecticut but have rarely been spotted in summer.

Frequency in Connecticut: Purple finches have been reported as 2.5% on Summer checklists and 2% on winter checklists by Birdswatchers of Connecticut.

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• Scientific name: Haemorhous purpureus
• Life span: Up to 7 years
• Size: 14 cm (5.5 in)
• Weight: 20-25 g
• Origin: North America

The purple finch is a beautiful tiny bird renowned for its unusual appearance. Despite having the name “Purple Finch,” these adorable tiny birds really have a pinkish-red color. Similar to other bird species, the females lack the rosy red coloring, while the males are more flamboyant and show off their gorgeous colors.
These finches often live in coniferous woods, shrublands, and fields, where they nest and perch while singing their lyrical songs. They are uncommon in metropolitan centers because they prefer to remain far from the activities of the human population.

Summer tanager

Summer Tanagers are spotted not common birds in Connecticut.

Frequency in Connecticut: Summer tanagers have been reported as less than 1% in checklists submitted by Birdswatchers of Connecticut

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• Scientific name: Piranga rubra
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 16 cm (6.3 in)
• Weight: 22-27 g
• Origin: North, Central, and South America

Male summer tanagers are almost all red, with a gray/silver beak. Females, on the other hand, are nearly all yellow, making these birds as dimorphic as they get. Summer tanagers spend most of their time in the gaps and borders of open deciduous or pine-oak woods.

While on the move, these red birds will chase insects such as wasps, bees, and caterpillars, as well as consume fruits, tiny berries, and rare seeds.

Tanagers live for around 5 years in the wild, which is about average for other wild birds, while captive summer tanagers are likely to live longer, similar to most other birds.

Red crossbill

Red Crossbills are not frequently spotted in Connecticut.

Frequency in Connecticut: Red crossbills have been reported as less than 1% in checklists submitted by Birdswatchers of Connecticut

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• Scientific name: Loxia curvirostra
• Life span: Up to 10 years
• Size: 15 cm (5.9 in)
• Weight: 26-39 g
• Origin: North America and Europe

Red Crossbills are recognizable by their reddish-orange feathers with grey wing feathers and beaks that tend to cross over one another as their name crossbill implies. Females, like summer tanagers, have a richer golden color with grey parts blended throughout.

Because of their urge and need to eat pine seeds, these crossbills spend most of their time in coniferous woods. Red crossbills may be found as long as there are pine trees around. This is why some of these birds may be found in heathlands.

Red crossbills eat spruce, pine, Douglas-fir, hemlock, larch, and tiny insects throughout their rather long lives of 8+ years in the wild.

Painted bunting

Painted Buntings are not commonly found in Connecticut. However, they are spotted relatively higher in the summer season.

Frequency in Connecticut: Painted Buntings have been reported as less than 1% in checklists submitted by Birdswatchers of Connecticut

• Scientific name: Passerina ciris
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 in)
• Weight: 12-17 g
• Origin: North America

With stunning blue, red, green, and yellow feathers, the Painted Bunting is one of the most colorful and spectacular kinds of birds, and it is a sight to see.
The Buntings, which are members of the Cardinal family, have a striking combination of colors, with vivid red feathers identifying the lower body. The females, on the other hand, are fully covered in green fur.
The brilliant songbirds often live in the woods and woodlands. They graze in swarms and sing lovely wandering melodies together. These birds are very social.
Pay attention to the metallic chip sounds if you’re attempting to locate these birds in the jungle.

White-winged Crossbill

White-winged Crossbills are extremely rare to be seen in Connecticut.

Frequency in Connecticut: White-winged Crossbills have been reported as less than 1% in checklists submitted by Birdswatchers of Connecticut

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• Scientific name: Loxia leucoptera
• Life span: Up to 4 years
• Size: 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm)
• Weight: 29 g
• Origin: Northern parts of the United States

White-winged Crossbill finches have long, crossed beaks. Males have red wings and tails, as well as two white wing bars. Females have two white wing bands and are yellow and brown.

White-winged When cone harvests are weak farther north, Crossbills reside in woods in Canada, Alaska, and possibly northern US states. They may be seen munching on seeds in spruce woods.

Unlike other birds, these birds may reproduce at any time of year as long as there is adequate food. They are often heard in big groups.

Common Redpolls

Common Redpolls are not commonly sighted in Connecticut.

Frequency in Connecticut: Common Redpolls have been reported as less than 1% in checklists submitted by Birdswatchers of Connecticut

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• Scientific name: Acanthis flammea
• Life span: 2 to 3 years
• Size: 4.5 and 5.5 in
• Weight: 12 and 16 grams
• Origin: southern Canada and the northern states

These common redpolls are distinguished by their red, white, and brown plumage, which includes a red and white forehead and breast, as well as brown and white wings. Females have a little patch on their forehead as well, but the rest of their body is brown and white.

A common redpoll may be found in boreal woods of pines, spruces, and larches.

These birds consume seeds from birch, alder, and spruce trees, as well as a variety of tiny invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, flies, and so on.

The highest lifespan for a redpoll was roughly 7 years and 10 months, however, the majority of redpolls spend far shorter lives, between 4 and 5 years.

Pine Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeaks, males showcase a rosy red plumage, are not commonly observed in Connecticut.

Frequency in Connecticut: Pine Grosbeaks have been reported as less than 1% in checklists submitted by Birdswatchers of Connecticut

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• Scientific name: Pinicola enucleator
• Life span: Up to 10 years
• Size: 22-24 cm (8.7-9.4 in)
• Weight: 40-80 g
• Origin: Northern North America and Eurasia

Pine Grosbeaks are distinguished by their greyish-white wings and tail feathers, red body and head, and black beak and feet. Female grosbeaks are not nearly as colorful as males, having plumage that is mostly light grey with touches of orange around the body and tail.

Pine Grosbeaks spend most of their time in coniferous woodlands, where they may rest on a horizontal branch to hunt tiny insects, seeds, buds, berries, and other refreshing foods.

These birds have been observed to survive up to 9 years old, sometimes even longer, indicating that they have reasonably lengthy lifespans for birds of their size.

Conclusion:

Connecticut is a fantastic place to observe a variety of red birds in their natural habitat. With an abundance of forests, fields, and wetlands, there are numerous opportunities to spot these colorful creatures. From the iconic Northern Cardinal to the rare Scarlet Tanager, Connecticut offers a diverse range of red birds for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Where are some good places to go birdwatching in Connecticut?

Connecticut is home to many great birdwatching spots, including the Hammonasset Beach State Park, the White Memorial Conservation Center, and the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center at Fairfield.

Q: What is the best time of year to spot red birds in Connecticut?

The best time to spot red birds in Connecticut is generally in the spring and summer months when they are more active and visible.

Q: Are there any endangered red birds in Connecticut?

Yes, there are some endangered red birds in Connecticut, including the Red-headed Woodpecker and the Scarlet Tanager. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these species and their habitats.